Somewhere Between the Sea and the Sky.

Episode 2: Chapter 6.

Yunho's back hit the coarse tree trunk as his right hand moved to what held him there. Right on his chest, the giant claws of the crow demon held him by the clothes and almost piercing his body. He grabbed the demon's leg as he held his sword with the other hand, but his feet didn't reach the floor and his arms didn't have the strength to properly attack. He had to free himself first, but never before he had to face such a powerful demon.

But he wasn't alone.

The captain managed to get some distance from the demon, two guns on hand and plenty of bullets to waste on a giant bird. Hongjoong was aware that bullets couldn't hurt that kind of demons, they had to actually knock him unconscious. Fuck.

The demon was huge, even if he tried to hit his leg the wings could easily block him. Maybe a distraction was a better option? What chances did he have of surviving if the demon went after him?

Surviving...?

Oh.

Oh.

"Hey, you piece of shit!" Hongjoong shouted, but it wasn't enough. He had to make sure the other looked at him, so he took one of his guns and shot at the sky.

The sudden and deafening sound fulfilled its function, both the demon and Yunho looking at him. He expected the demon's red eyes on him but, for a moment, those of the soldier showed the bloody color too. He just blinked and they were back to the usual dark brown, did he imagine it? Yeah, probably.

"Bold of you to focus on this bitch when the captain is in front of you. This is insulting!"

"Oh?"

The demon tilted his head in a slow and creepy way that made the captain take some steps back.

"You want me to kill you, captain of the Aurora? No— Sorry, Ateez."

As Hongjoong expected he let go of the other, Yunho's body hit the floor with a discreet noise, most of it branches breaking and leaves moving. The bad thing was that the crow demon was walking towards Hongjoong with his eyes wide open. The guy was enormous in that form, a huge monster that wanted the captain's sweet blood.

"Yeah, that's it! Come and fight someone on your level!" Joong insisted.

"Your distraction is futile, human." He laughed.

The demon dashed towards Hongjoong, and the captain closed his eyes expecting a fast death. But the demon had other plans.

Hongjoong opened his eyes wide when he felt both of the giant crow legs grab him— Fuck, wait— Both? Oh, death was such a better idea, really. Not even the whole life of the greatest singer would be able to match how loud he screamed when the other spread his wings and went up. In just a moment they were above the trees, the forest turning into a huge green spot under them. There was something else, some clearings where Oneus could be hiding, but he honestly wasn't in the best condition to appreciate it.

"HELL NO— OH FUCK OH SHIT OH FU—"

He cried with every inch of his soul when he felt the other let go of him, falling no more than one or two meters before the demon grabbed him again by the arms. Hongjoong took a deep breath when he realized the other was getting a better hold of him instead of trying to just— let him fall to his death.

"So—" The demon suddenly started talking, his voice completely calm. "You're really pirates?"

Hongjoong didn't even find the words to reply, honestly. He was too busy trying to avoid a fucking heart attack from the fright.

"I thought you were lying, but no idiot would try to get killed to save a soldier— No offense, it's such a stupid move."

No offense taken, Joong thought.